Tent



Jan. 2, 1940. J.- A. DATZ' 2,185,588

T ENT Filed April 4,1939 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 1 i INVENTOR.

d Jose/ah A. D073 ATTORNEY.

Jm 9 J. A. DATz v 7 2,135,533

I TENT Filed April 4, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. v Josebh A D013 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 2 1940. A, DATZ I 2,185,588

TENT Filed April 4, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR /9h A Da13 BY $4.. aim;

ATTORNEY.

" Patented Jan/ 2, I

' 2,185,588 [TEN H v t. l h A Datz,-Union,N; J. I e a I ApplicationApril' M 3 3 scam (oi- 35ml; v

The invention relates: totents and more particularly to a simple andrugged form of collapsi: ble tent. T w The tent-is particularly adapted for use'jas' a lawn tent, theside wallsbein'gimade of :netting provide for ample air circulation and. being tights sly closed'prevent theentrance of insectst." The top is preferably made of, canvas and acts as a protection againstthe elements.

One oftheobjects is toprovide a tentthat may be easily and quickly erectedor taken down ".by one person with a minimum amount of effort. A further object is to providea tent, which when-collapsed takes up very little room.'

A further object is toprovide a tentwh'ich is very strong and rugged in construction and at the same time. is of extremely light weight so that i i it may be easily carried-from place to place. 1

' posts and'rafter members Another object isjto provide a tent inwhich no pegs'or ropes are necessary eitheriin erecting the tent or maintaining it in the erected position.

In addition to the foregoing other objects and advantages will become apparent as this speci-- 'fication proceeds. Referring to the drawings forming a part thereof, and inf'which' a preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated:

Fig. 1' is a perspective-view, illustrating the tent in its erected position; a I

i Fig. 2 is .a perspective of the framework; the

ted and one shown as 'swung to its vertical position;

Fig.4; 1;-., Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Figi 4;

Fig. '7' isaperspective. view vojfthe center head;

Fig. 8 is a fragmenta'rytop'plan view of the corner construction; z I

Fig. 9 is an elevational yiew of the corner construction,-the sidebar being 'iomitted; I

Fig. 10is a fragmentarydetailsectional View being swung upward as it would appear in its folded position; I I Figs. 11" and 12are' fragmentary detail sectional views taken respectively on the lines Ill-ll and 7 [2-42 of Fig. 9;

ners

Fig. llis a fragmentaryelevational view 1ook ing at theainsideofyone of the corners} 1 Fig. 15 is a perspect've view'of one of the corner plates; and 1 Fig. 16 is a perspectiveview of one'end of one.

of the side bars andthe brace attached thereto.

top plan View showing Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown Fig. l3 is a side elevation of one of thetcor- Re ferringagain, to said drawings the framejointsqas illustrated in Fig. 2.

As shown in. Fig. 1, the side walls 23hr the'tent are made of netting and the top of, canopy 24- is made of canvas, the side walls and top being suitablyv secured together. A zipper. fastening 25 extends from the apex of the top and down the at the central portion thereof. The fastener arrangement has two-distinctadvantages, one being that an absolutely tight closure is effected thus preventing the entrance of insects,.and'the other being that due to the closure extending over one, half of the width of the tent the act of spreading the tent over the framework or removing it is greatly facilitated. .The side walls being made of nettingample circulation of air is permitted and the entrance of insects prevented. The canvas topacts as a protection against the elements although the use of other materials for the top is not precluded. .For instance,

if one; wanted a sun tent the .top might also be I I 25- made of netting.

The upper zends of therrafter members 22 are pivotally mounted for limited movement in a cenception of-the pivotpin or rivets 33 for the'rafter members.v At' the central portion of theicenter' OFFICE 1 full length of one of the side"walls,'preferably J head or. at what might be termed beyond the inner ends of the ears 3|, the center head is cruciform'in appearance and pockets are formed. Each of .these pockets has a sloping bottom 34 against which theunder faces of the upper exare in their operative position as shown in the right hand'side of'FigJG. The side walls of the pockets'converge togetheras shown" at 3'5 and the sides of the rafter member extremities are bev eled off as indicatedat'36 to cooperate with the converging side walls 35. The rafter members are thus positively positioned by: what mightbe termed a wedging action when the 'fr'ameworkis erected and a strong and rugged interlocking structure is provided.. 1 j I 5 When it is desired to'collapse the framework, the rafter members 22 are turned down as indicated in Figs. sto 6. Their extremities are "disengaged from their'cooperating pockets and they rest in substantially parallel relation to" each Reference will now be had to the corner construction. The lower extremity of each of the I raftermembers is provided with a pivot pin 40.

The pin 40 extends slightly beyond each side of the rafter member and engages openings. 41 in 50 rangements of parts may be made by'one skilled 1 corner plates 42 as shown particularly in Figs.

l1 and 12. The corner plates are L-shaped in formation and are secured to opposite sides of the corner posts by rivets d4 passing through suitableapertures $5 in the vertical legs ofthe corner posts and the tops of the corner posts are angularly slabbed off to engage the under sides of the rafter members as shown at 66 in Figs- 3, 9 and 10. Thus a strong,'-simple and accurate positioning means is provided for the corner posts and rafter members;

When it is desired to collapse the framework.

' the cornerposts are swung on their pivotsalmost 270 until they are in substantially parallel relation with the rafter members as indicated .in.

Figs. 3 and 10. r l

The means for interlocking the framework in its assembled and erected position comprises the insertion of thersidebars 2|. For. this purpose the side plates have laterally extendingpockets 4i havingtop and bottom walls 48 and end walls 49. ..Both ends of each of the side bars. till are formed with a..double bevel as indicated at 5i in Figs. 8, 11 and '16. One of the bevels or sloped faces on each end rests against the face of the corner plate and the other bevel or sloped face rests against the end wall A9 of the. pocket on the .corner plates. trifle longer than the actual distance from pocket to pocket on each corner post. In the erected position they are thus under a slight compression and function most effectively to maintain the framework in its assembled position. l

The, corner posts. 20, side bars 2i and rafter members 2 2 are preferably made of wood or some other light and strong material and the center head and corner pieces are madelof an aluminum alloy which combines strength and lightness.

As an additional strengthening means corner braces are provided. Their upper ends are pivoted at56 tothe side bars and the lower ends have open slots 5? which are hooked over a by a wing nut 55;, see Figs. 13, 14 and '16.

' Changes in details of construction and .ar-

in the art and such :changes are to-be considered as comingwithin the spirit'of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. A. collapsible framework for a'htent, said framework having in combination corner posts, corner plates secured to either side of said-corner posts, rafter members pivoted between each pair of corner plates, a'center head in which said rafter membersare pivoted, andside bars ex? tending between said corner plates, thelength of said side bars being slightly morethan the distance between said corner plates-so that' they are under a slight compression when in position and effectively function to maintain the entire framework in its assembled or erected position.

2. A collapsible framework for a tent, said framework having in combination corner posts,

corner plates secured to either side of said corner posts, rafter members pivoted between each'pair of corner plates,ra center head inwhich said rafter. members are pivoted, pockets formed in. a said center head for the reception of said rafter. membersghsaid pockets having a sloping. lower wall and converging endwalls, the lower surfaces .of the ends .of said rafter'members engagi'ngtheposition.

The side bars are made a sloping lower walls of fsaidf pockets andthe. ends of said rafter members being beveled, to cooperr ate with the converging end walls of said pockets. and side bars extending between said corner -plates, the length of said side barsbeing slightly -.more than the distance between sajidcorner plates so that they are under a slight compression j when in position and effectively functionfto maintain the entire frameworkin its assembled {or created position. I I

3. A collapsible: frame '--work for a{ tent, said' framework having in combination, :corner posts, corner plates secured to either side of said corner posts, pockets formed on the exposed surfaces of said ,corner plates, rafter members 'pivotedbetween each pair of corner plates, a center head;

in which said rafter members are pivoted, and;

side bars extending between and having: their ends positioned in the pockets "of said corner plates, the length of said sidebarsbe'ing slightly more than the distance between said pockets so that they are under a slight-compression when Q Q in position and effectively function tomaintain the entire framework in its assembled or erected ,3 a 30 4. A collap sible. frame. work fora tent, said framework having in combination, corner posts; a

theupper ends of said-corner post's being angularly beveled, corner plates'secured to, either side of said corner posts, pocketsformed on the ex.

posed surfaces of said corner plates, rafter :members pivoted between each pair of corner plates.

the under surfaces-of said rafter members'engaging thebeveled upper endsfiof said corner posts, a center headin which said rafter mem-\ bers arcpivot'edand side bars'e'xtending between and having their: ends positioned in thepockets i of said corner platesythe length of, said side barsbeing slightly more'than the distance between saidpockets so that'they are underwa slight compression whenqin positionland effectivelyfunction to maintain-the entireframeworkv in its assembled or erected position. g,

5. A collapsible framework for a tent, said framework having, in combination, corner posts, corner plates secured to either, side of said corner posts, pockets formed on the exposed surfaces of said corner-plates, rafter members pivoted ing a sloping lower wallandconverging end walls, thelower surfacesof the .--ends of said rafter members engaging the sloping lower walls between each pair-of corner plates, a center head of saidpockets and the ends of said-rafter memhere being beveledto'jcooperate with theconv I ing-end walls of said pocketspand sidebars extending between andhaving their ends positioned in the pockets of saidcorner plates, the length of said side bars b ejingslightlyinore than-the dist'ance between saidpockets so th'atthey are under a slight compression when in position, and effectively function to. maintain the entireframework in its assembled or-erected position. 9

r Al DATZQ 

